Posts Tagged ‘Governor General Michaelle Jean’

October 1, 2010 – Ottawa

Friday, October 1st, 2010

Just got back from the swearing in of the new Governor General, David Johnston.  It was something!!

As I was walking in I saw my good friend Gen. Walt Natynczyk who was in full dress uniform.  He was getting ready to escort the Governor General, who is the Commander in Chief of the Canadian Forces, into the Senate chamber.

Ambassador Jacobson and Gen. Walt Natynczyk

I met with a group of the Deans of the Diplomatic Corp in the Speaker’s Office before the ceremony.  There was a lot of discussion about the new Chief of Staff in the White House.  But we had to turn off our Blackberries before the official announcement came out.

Ambassador Jacobson and the Deans of the Diplomatic Corp in the Speaker's Office

A few thoughts about the event itself.  First when the outgoing Governor General, Michaëlle Jean and her husband, John Daniel Lafond, entered the chamber there was loud and sustained applause.  It was touching.

During Prime Minister Harper’s address he talked about how Governor General Johnston had been a two time All-American hockey player at Harvard.  He added that it goes to prove that “the best All-Americans are actually Canadian.”  I must admit it was a great line.  Even if it was at our expense.

During the ceremonies, there was a whole lot of bowing to people of higher authority.  When the Governor General’s wife Sharon was introduced, it was a wonderful gesture when he bowed to her.  While I have not yet met them they seem like wonderful people.

The Governor General after talking about some of the people who had a lasting impact on his life, including his Hockey coach at Harvard, said if there is one headline we should remember from his speech it would be to “Cherish our Teachers.”  He clearly understands the importance of education to our future well being.

The ceremony was wonderful.  Everyone was in a great mood.  I was honored to be able to attend.

DJ

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Posted in October 2010 |

September 24, 2010 – Ottawa

Tuesday, September 28th, 2010

Yesterday I went to a reception at Rideau Hall to celebrate the end of Governor General Michaëlle Jean’s five year term.  So much has been written about her warmth, her efforts to engage youth, to empower women and so much more.  All I can add is that she will be missed by everyone she has touched.  I have no doubt that she will distinguish herself in her new role as UNESCO Special Envoy for Haiti.  While her term as Governor General of Canada is drawing to a close, I am happy to say the friendship Julie and I have forged with her and her husband, Jean-Daniel, will last for quite some time.

With Tom Leahy, Fulbright Canada Board Member Michael Parham, my wife Julie, and Gaile Leahy. Photo Credit: Ray Pilon.

After the Rideau Hall celebration, Julie and I went to a dinner in honor of the Canada-US Fulbright Scholars.  The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the United States Government.  It is designed to “increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.”  Since 1946 when it was proposed by freshman Senator J. William Fulbright – himself a former Rhodes Scholar – more than 300,000 people from around the world have participated.  They are chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential.  U.S. students study in foreign countries.  Foreign students study in the U.S.  The U.S./Canada Fulbright Program is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

Speaking at the Canada-U.S. Fulbright Dinner in Ottawa. Photo Credit: Ray Pilon.

Minister Peter Van Loan represented the Canadian Government.  I represented the United States.  There were at least three highlights during the evening: 

  • The dinner was held in the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum.  Despite the fact that it is only a few blocks from my house, it was our first visit.  But it won’t be our last.  It is really impressive.
  • I got a chance to talk with several of the American and Canadian Fulbright Scholars.  These people are future leaders in education, business, and government in both of our countries.
  • The keynote speaker was Ruth Simmons, the President of Brown University.  Dr. Simmons is the first African-American President of an Ivy League University.  She has a very long list of honors and achievements.  But I was far more moved by her personal story which she talked about in her address.  She was the last of 12 children from a rural Texas family.  Her father was a share-cropper in a place where racism was rampant.  She talked about how first reading books in the public library, then during a trip to Mexico and subsequently while traveling to France as a Fulbright Scholar that she realized the opportunities available to her in her life.  The progress she – and our country – has made in one generation is breathtaking.

With Fulbright Canada Board Member Kevin Kelly, The Honourable Peter Van Loan, Minister of International Trade, Brown University President Ruth Simmons, Fulbright Canada Board Member Roscoe Howard, and Fulbright Canada CEO Michael Hawes. Photo Credit: Ray Pilon.

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Posted in September 2010 |

February 6, 2010 – Ottawa

Saturday, February 6th, 2010

On Thursday Julie and I attended a wonderful event. Governor General Michaëlle Jean awarded 47 Decorations for Bravery including the Star of Courage to Petty Officer Drew Dazzo of the United States Coast Guard who jumped from a helicopter into 20 meter waves to save three men, including one Canadian, whose boat had capsized.

There was story after story of people who had gone into burning houses, pulled people from wrecked cars before they exploded, jumped into freezing water to save friends, relatives, even complete strangers. There were children who saved parents. Parents who saved children. People who had risked their lives only to have the victims perish. Awards were given posthumously because the recipients had died during their acts of bravery.

While each story was amazing in itself, taken together they were majestic. Here were people of all ages and of all segments of society. Military and civilian. Police and fire. Men and women. The elderly and children. But they all had one thing in common. Each was tested. And each chose bravery. As the Governor General said, it renewed our faith in humanity.

The problem was Julie and I forgot to bring Kleenex. Next time we’ll do better.

DJ

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Posted in February 2010 |

January 13, 2010 – Port-Au-Prince Earthquake

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

As you know, last night there was a terrible earthquake centered near Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. Our friend Ken Merten is the US Ambassador in Haiti. We believe Ken, his wife Susan and their two daughters are well. We understand many others were not as fortunate.

We learned of the tragedy when we arrived at Rideau Hall for a long scheduled dinner last night with Governor General Michaelle Jean and her husband Jean-Daniel Lafond. The Governor General’s warmth and compassion for the victims in Haiti touched Julie and me.

Although you can look to State Department websites for more information, here are a few things I’d like you to know:

• The United States is fully committed to assisting Haiti through this crisis.
• The situation on the ground is very fluid though there are certainly credible reports of severe casualties and vast destruction.
• People outside of Haiti with information or inquiries about U.S. citizens in Haiti may reach the Haiti Task Force at 1-888-407-4747 or via e-mail at CA-TaskForce@state.gov. For callers outside the U.S., please call 202-501-4444.

At this time, monetary donations are the most effective form of assistance because they allow humanitarian organizations to purchase the exact type and quantity of items needed by those affected by the crisis. Monetary donations have several logistical advantages over commodity contributions:

• Monetary donations are more cost-effective than commodity contributions, because the cost of international shipping usually exceeds the cost of procuring the commodities within the region.
• Monetary donations, unlike commodity contributions, do not involve international transportation and handling, which can be very complex and time consuming.
• Humanitarian organizations can use monetary donations to specifically procure items on a priority-needs basis in the exact quantity and quality required – while commodity contributions often involve use of scarce resources (transportation, staff time, warehouse space, etc) for non-crucial or inappropriate commodities.
• Commodities procured by humanitarian organizations using monetary donations can be sorted, labeled (in the appropriate language), and packaged in exactly the manner required for storage and distribution and will reach the affected region much quicker than commodity contributions would.

I’m going to be donating to the Red Cross, although I’m sure that other relief organizations are mounting a similar effort to provide immediate assistance.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti as they recover from this terrible tragedy.
DJ

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Posted in January 2010 |